.('ODE 



-LAWS 





CODE OF BY^LAWS 



OF 



m 




OPEKS LHSPTER JO. 



ROYHL fiRCH MASONS, 



LOCATED- AT 



TOPEES, KM^S 



ADOPTED SEPTEMBER 4, 1882, 



TOPEKA, KANSAS: 

COMMONWEALTH FEINTING HOUSE. 

1882. 



do 



-J 

p4 



BY-LAWS. 



Article I.— (9/ Name, 
Section 1. This Chapter shall he known and distinguished 
as Topeka Chapter No. 5, under the jurisdiction of the Grand 
Chapter of Royal Arch Masons of the State of Kansas. 

Article II.— OJ Meetings. 

Section 1. The regular convocations of this Chapter shall 
be held on the first and third Monday eyeniugs of each 
month. 

Sec 2. Special convocations may be held at the will and 
pleasure of the High Priest. 

Sec 3. The hours of meeting shall be at 8 o'clock p. m. 
from April to October, both inclusive, and 7:30 o'clock p. m. 
the remainder of the year. 

Article III.— 0/ Officers. 

Section 1. The elective ofiS.cers of this Chapter shall be a 
High Priest, King, Scribe, Treasurer and Secretary, who shall 
be elected annually on the second regular convocation in 
December of each year. 

Sec. 2. The appointed officers shall be a Captain of the 
Host, Principal Sojourner, Royal Arch Captain, three Masters 
of the Tails and Guard, who shall be appointed by the High 
Priest. 

Sec 3. The duties of the several oflicers shall be those laid 
down by the Constitution of the Grand Chapter, or sanctioned 
by immemorial usage. 

Sec 4. The installation of the ofiB.cers elected and ap- 
pointed shall be held at the regular or a special convocation 
previous to the first regular convocation in January of each 
vcar. 



(4) 

Article TV.— Of Committees. 
Section 1. The permanent committees of this Chapter 
shallbe— 

1. Committee on Accounts ; 

2. Committee on Relief; 

3. Committee on Library and Instruction ; 

which several committees shall he appointed by the High 
Priest on the first regular convocation in January of each 
year. 

Sec. 2. The Committee on Accounts shall be composed of 
three members, who shall examine all bills referred to them 
and report thereon ; shall carefully examine the reports of 
the Treasurer and Secretary ; and on the first regular convo- 
cation in January of each year, shall report to the Chapter a 
statement of its financial condition. 

Sec. 3. The Committee on Relief shall have immediate 
charge of the sick or disabled members of the Chapter; shall 
visit them and see that they are provided with proper care 
and attendance. This committee shall be composed of three 
members. 

Sec. 4. The Committee on Library and Instruction shall 
consist of three members, who shall have charge of the 
library which may be acquired by the Chapter; shall make 
arrangements for stated meetings of the members of the 
Chapter for instruction in the tenets and practices of the 
institution ; shall specially provide for lectures on convenient 
occasions, by competent brethren, upon Masonic jurispru- 
dence, manners and customs. Ten per centum of the net 
income of the Chapter is hereby appropriated to the use of 
this committee, to form a special fund to be known as the 
"Library Fund," to be only expended for books and periodi- 
cals anil the proper care of tlie same. 

Sec. 5. All special committees sliall be appointed by the 
High Priest. 

Article Y.— Of Fees and Bices. 

Section 1. The fees for the degrees of Capitular ^fasonry 
conferred in this Chapter shall b * forty dollars; ten dollars 
must accompany the petition, five dollars be paid before the 
candidate receives the degree of Past Master, ten dollars be 
paid before the candidate receives the degree of ]Most Excel- 
lent Master, and fifteen dollars beforv the candidate is exalted 
to the degree of Royal Arch. 



(5) 

Sec. 2. The annual dues to be paid by each member of this 
Chapter shall be two dollars; which sum shall be due and 
payable on the first regular communication in December of 
each year. 

Article Nl.— Of Special Duties of Officers. 

Section 1. The High Priest, King, Scribe and Secretary 
shall represent this Chapter in the Masonic Board of Relief 
of the city of Topeka. 

Sec. 2. The High Priest, King and Scribe shall act as a 
Board of Trustees of this Chapter in all matters wherein the 
Chapter maj" act as an incorporated body. 

Sec. 3. The Treasurer and Secretary shall each make and 
present for the consideration of the Chapter, at its annual 
convocation for election of oificers. a correct statement of the 
financial condition of the Chapter, giving a detailed account 
of all receipts and expenditures; which report shall be im- 
mediately referred to the Committee on Accounts for investi- 
gation, and by that committee reported back to the Chapter 
at its first regular convocation in January. 

Sec. 4. The Secretary and Guard shall each receive for 
their services such sum as maj^ be from time to time deter- 
mined by resolution of the Chapter made at any regular 
convocation ; which resolution shall lay over until the next 
regular convocation for final action. 

Article YIL— Of Aid to Sojourners. 

Section 1. This Chapter shall not, by resolution or other- 
wise, appropriate any part of the funds of the Chapter for the 
relief of destitute Masons, other than its own members, their 
widows and orphans ; but ten per centum of all money 
received for degrees and twelve and one-half per centum of 
all money received for dues shall be paid to the Treasurer of 
the Masonic Board of Relief of the city of Topeka, to whieh 
board ail transient applicants for relief shall bj referred. 

Sec. 2. 'Jhe High Priest and Secretary of this Chapter shall 
draw a warrant on the Treasurer in favor of the Treasurer of 
the Masonic Board of Relief of the city of Topeka, on the first 
days of January, April, July and October of each year, for the 
sum to be transferred to the Board of ReLef, as specified in 
section one of this article : Provided, That the said Board of 
Relief shall make a report at the annual convocation of this 
Chapter, giving an itemized account (.'f all the money receiv- 
ed and disbursed, and all other business transacted by said 
board. 



(6) 

Article Vllt.— Of Order of Business. 

1. Opening ceremonies. 

2. Reading minutes of last regular convocation for in- 
formation. 

3. Presentation and reference of petitions. 
U. Reports of special committees. 

5. Balloting for condidates. 

6. Unfinished business. 

7. Miscellaneous business. 

8. Report of cases of sickness or distress. 

9. Conferring degrees. ^ 

10. Reading and approval of minutes of present convo- 
cation. 

11. Closing ceremonies. 

Article IX.— 0/ Amendments, Etc, 

Section 1. These by-laws shall only be altered, revised, 
amended or suspended by a two-thirds vote of all the mem- 
bers present at a regular convocation, notice having been 
given of such proposed alteration, revision, amendment or 
suspension at a previous regular couA^ocation. 

Adopted and substituted in place of all previous by-laws, 
regulations and lesolutions, this 4th day of September, A. D. 
1882. 

B. McMURTRIE, High Priest. 

Attest: C. Spalding, Secretary. 



Music— Old Hundred. 
Another six days' work is done : 
Another Sabbath is begun ; 
Return, roy soul! enjoy thy rest-- 
Improve tiie day thy God hath blessed. 

In holy duties let the day — 
In holy pleasures pass away ! 
How sweet a Sabbath thus to spend, 
In hope of one which ne'er shall end ! 



MARK MASTER'S SONG. 
Music —America. 
Mark Masters, all appear 
Before the Chief O'erseer, 

In concert move. 
Let him your work inspect 
For the Chief Architect ; 
If there be no defect, 
He will approve. 

You who have passed the square, 
For your rewards prepare, 

Join heart and hand; 
Each with his mark in view, 
March with the just and true; 
Wages to you are due, 

At your command. 

Hiram, the widow's son, 
Sent unto Solomon 

Our great key-stone ; 
On it appears the name 
Which raises high the fame 
Of all to whom the same 

Is truly known. 



(8) 

Now to tlie westward move, 
Where, full of strength and love, 

H i ra ra d o th s tan d ; 
But if imposters are 
Mix'd with the worthy there, 
Caution them to beware 

Of the right hand. 



Now to the praise of those 
Who triumphed o'er the foes 

Of Masons art; 
To the praisew^orthy three, 
Who founded this degree ; 
May all their virtues be 

Deep in our hearts. 



MOST EXCELLENT MASTER'S SONG. 
Mvsic—Adeste Fldelis. 
All hail to the morning 

That bids us rejoice; 
The -temple's completed, 

Exalt high each voice. 
The cap-stone is finish'd, 

Our labor is o'er ; 
The sound of the gavel 

Shall hail us no more. 

To the Power Almighty, who ever has guided 
The tribes of old Israel, exalting their fame, 

To Him w^ho hath govern'd our hearts undivided, 
Let's send forth our voices to praise his great 
name. 

Companions, assemble 

On this joyful day, 
(The occasion is glorious) 

'J'he key-stone to lay ; 
Fulfill'd is the promise 

By the Ancient of Days, 
To bring forth the ca}>stone 

With shouting and praise. 



(9) 

There is no more occasion for level or plumb-line, 
For trowel or gavel, for compass or square; 

Our works are completed, the aek safely seated, 
And we shall be greeted as workmen most rare. 



Xow those that are worthy. 

Our toils who have sharect. 
And proved themselves faithful, 

Shall meet their reward. 
Their virtue and knowledge, 

Industry and skill, 
Have our aprobation, 

Have gained our good will. 

We accept and receive them Most Excellent Masters 
Invested with honors, and power to preside 

Among worthy craftsmen wherever assembled, 
The knowledge of Masons to s})read far and wide. 

Almighty Jehovah I 

Descend now and till 
This Lodge with ihy glory, 

Our hearts with good-will; 
Preside at our meetings, 

Assist us to find 
True }>leasure in teaching 

Good- will to mankind. 

Thy idsdom inspired the great institution, 

Thy strengtli shall support it till Nature expire; 

And when the creation shall fall into ruin, 

Its beauiii shall rise through the midst of the fire. 



ROYAL ARCH ODE. 
Music — Nuremberg. 
Joy, the sacred law is found; 

:N^ow the temple stands complete; 
Gladly let us gather round 

Where the pontiff" holds his seat. 
Xow he spreads the volume wide. 

Opening ibrth its leaves to-day, 
And the monarch by his side 

Gazes on the bright display. 



(10) 

Joy, the secret vault is found; 

Full the sunbeam falls within, 
Pointing darkly under ground 

To the treasure we would win. 
They have brought it forth to light. 

And again it cheers the earth ; 
And its leaves are purely bright, 

Shining in their newest worth. 

This shall be the sacred mark 

Which shall guide us to the skies; 
Bearing like a. holy ark 

All the hearts who love to rise ; 
This shall be the corner stone 

Which the builders threw away, 
But was found the only one 

Fitted for the arch's stay. 

This shall be the gavel true, 

At whose sound the crowd shall bend, 
Giving to the law its due; 

This shall be the faithful friend; 
This the token which shall bring 

Kindness to the sick and poor, 
Hastening on, on angel's wing. 

To the lone and darksome door. 

This shall crown the mighty arch, 

When the temple springs on high. 
And the brethren bend their march, 

Wafting incense to the sky. 
Then the solemn strain shtdl swell 

From the bosom and the tongue, 
And the Master's glory tell 

In the harmony of song. 

Here the exile, o'er the waste. 

Trudging homeward, shall repose; 
All his toils and dangers past, 

Here his long sojournings close. 
JMitering through the sacred raits. 

To the holy cell he bends; 
Then, as sinking Nature fails, 

Iloj>e ill glad iVuition iMids. 



